daniel paul schreber mad judge?

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Re reading a monologue I wrote some years ago about a judge who lived and worked in Saxony in the 19th Century, and who subsequently suffered a massive mental breakdown – has encouraged me to make a paper mock up of Daniel Paul Schreber, the judge in question. He was as vulnerable as a construction of wire and paper.
I began by using thin wire bought from the local hardware shop. I have given him large flat heels reaching out behind him so that by putting a light weight on them he stand up – ‘stand up and be a man’ – as the Nurse says in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Her double entendre has meaning in this case. Daniel Paul lived during an age when ‘standing up’ had only one purpose, that of making babies. Masturbation was seen as a deeply shocking and dangerous practice – madness, blindness, death followed on - it was claimed by all upstanding great and good people. Freud had a thing or two to say about Daniel’s mental condition in its relationship to homosexuality, another much feared practice.

For the model, I use pastel paper. I shall give him a shirt and coat, and vest (waistcoat).

Daniel Paul sports a yellow bow tie. Tomorrow, he may go further, and don a pretty piece of material. When he was an inmate of Sonnenstein mental hospital he would dress himself in women’s finery in anticipation of becoming the mother of the Nietzsche’s Superman.

Daniel’s interest in the Biblical Prophet, of the same name, seems to link to his fascination with Mazda, the chief divinity of the ancient Persian religion and Mazda’s enemy, the demon Ahriman. Between these two cosmic powers Daniel found himself in a bind of a singularly unpleasant nature. As a result of reading round the subject I question whether the Biblical Daniel was, in fact, a relic of Zaroastrianism.

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

And about time! It is at lease 37 years ago my sons - then young lads, became fascinated by the possibility of extracting power from the movement of the sea. We have been waiting all this time for the goverment to catch up with what was then their childhood dreams. How many MPs have a scientific and or engineering education I wonder? I think very few, more's the shame - I would rather they were playing the system and sneaking pennies for themselves than show their ignorance about the real world of chemistry and physicis and engineering - grrrrr.

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I have spent life in the arts, especially in professional theatre - that I first went into by helping the scenic artist of a local theatre - I am now 83 and still draw and paint - and grumble when I don't think theatre shows are up to the mark.